Bloomberg launches initiative for local tech startups

Last week, Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched a new Made in NY initiative to help support growing tech startups in the city.

Bloomberg’s Made in NY brand had already been used to promote the city’s entertainment industry, and now helps bolster the city’s technology industry.

Now, digital companies that base at least 75 percent of development in New York City, have at least one employee working in the city and a user base of 10,000 are eligible to advertise with the Made in NY logo. Currently, the project hosts 900 city startups.

The Made In NY initiative will provide resources that list tech job opportunities and provide links for free and low-cost digital education training.

The initiative also includes an extensive citywide ad campaign featuring the Made in NY companies.

“Growing our local tech industry is an important part of our economic development strategy to bring new businesses to our city and more job opportunities to New Yorkers,” Mayor Bloomberg said.

“The city offers the ideal location for talented people with groundbreaking ideas to start their companies.”

In the past four years, the number of employees at digital media companies grew by 80 percent. New York’s tech industry has allowed venture capital deals to grow by 52 percent from 2007 to 2012. And in 2012, New York City saw over $8.3 billion in technology company acquisitions, ranking second in the nation.

“Under Mayor Bloomberg’s leadership, New York City has become a global tech hub,” said New York City’s deputy mayor for economic development, Robert K. Steel, in a press release. “This new campaign will showcase the vibrancy of the city’s tech and digital ecosystem.”

Ideeli, a web-based company that offers limited-time sales for retail name brands, is one of many startups working with Made with NY. Launched in June 2007, Ideeli is one of the fastest growing retailers in the United States. The site has more than six million members and over 1,000 brand partners. The company joined the Made in NY list because it believes that the initiative is full of incredible businesses and is honored to be in the same group.

“The Made in NY list allows us to note that we are hiring, from this we have received a great response from applicants looking for jobs in the tech industry in New York City,” said Amanda Glick, a brand marketing associate at Ideeli.

“We also have had the opportunity to participate in tech-focused career fairs, conferences, tech meet-ups and other exciting and interesting networking events around the city,” she said.

According to Glick, New York is the perfect backdrop for a tech company because there is an incredible pool of talented potential employees who are well-educated and hungry to learn, work, explore and create.

“The energy of the city that never sleeps can be felt in and outside the walls of our company and it makes for a great work environment,” she said.

A version of this article was published in the Thursday, Feb. 28 print edition. Lesley Greenberg is a staff writer. Email her at [email protected]